11 Weather myths to stop believing

11 Weather myths to stop believing

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Myth: Storms such as hurricanes and tornadoes are the most deadly type of weather.

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: Photography by Daniel

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While these types of weather are the most dramatic and receive the most media coverage, they actually account for only six percent of weather-related deaths over a five-year period. According to the CDC, exposure to cold weather is the most dangerous type of weather which accounts for almost 63% of deaths, while exposure to heat is the next most dangerous accounting for 31% of weather-related deaths. (Source: Reader's Digest)

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: NOAA Photo Library

4 of 23

Myth: Lightning will never strike the same place twice.

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: jazar02

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According to Chris Maier, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service, lightning can in fact strike the same place twice. Lightning is even more likely to strike the same place twice if the object struck is tall, pointed, or isolated. One specific example of a place that is struck by lightning more than once is the Empire State Building, which can be struck as many as 100 times per year. (Source: Reader's Digest)

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: James Loesch

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Myth: Use alcohol to warm you up in the cold weather.

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: 55Laney69

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If you've been justifying drinking alcohol at night because it's cold and you're looking to warm up, you are unfortunately mistaken. Alcohol can create a senstation of warmth, but in reality studies have determined that drinking alcohol causes heat to escape your body faster. Alcohol consumption causes blood to flow to the skin and away from your internal organs which is actually a reversal of the natural process that our body uses to keep ourselves warm. (Source: Reader's Digest)

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: Kyle May

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Myth: Taping your windows during a hurricane will help protect your home.

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: WarmSleepy

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The known myth is that taping your windows will help to prevent the glass from shattering during a hurricane, when in reality this will actually create larger more dangerous shards of glass. Another psychological effect of this is that the tape may provide you with a false sense of security, making you less likely to seek shelter in a windowless location where you would not have to work about shattered glass causing you harm. As an alternative, install hurricane shutters or impact-resistant windows to protect your windows from hurricanes. (Source: Reader's Digest)

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: WarmSleepy

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Myth: You are more likely to become sick in cold air

PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons: Elipongo

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This myth is partially true because it is viruses, not the weather that cause us to become sick. People are somewhat more susceptible to becoming sick because if our faces are exposed to the cold, our blood vesssels will constrict and our immune response will be repressed, which could make it easier for a virus to affect your body. (Source: Reader's Digest)

PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons: Maxwell GS

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Myth: An area can be protected from a tornado if it is surrounded by lakes, rivers, or mountains.

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: davebloggs007

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For years people have made claims that tornadoes have not happened where they live, or that they are being protected from such weather events by mountains, lakes, or rivers, and this simply isn't true. Just because a tornado has not occurred in a specific area does not mean that it cannot in the future. (Source: Reader's Digest)

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: LakeMartinVoice

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Myth: A Flash Flood can only occur near rivers or streams.

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: U.S. Geological Survey

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Just because you do not live near a body of water does not mean that you are not susceptible to a flash flood. Flash floods are caused by a rapid flooding of a low-lying area, which could be due to heavy rainfall, hurricanes, or even snowmelt. (Source: Reader's Digest)

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: Andrew Kesper

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Myth: You can only get sunburned in the summer.

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: pedrosimoes7

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Although we often associate sunburns with the summer, the earth is actually physically closest to the sun during the winter. During the winter in addition to the earth being closest to the sun, we also can have the snow and ice reflecting UV rays, which can give your skin a double dose of exposure. Be sure to wear sunscreen all year round when going outside. (Source: Reader's Digest)

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: Vince Alongi

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Myth: If you touch someone who has been struck by lightning you will be electrocuted.

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: Scott Hudson *

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Human bodies are not capable of conducting electricity, so if you touch someone who has been struck by lightning you will not be electrocuted yourself. (Source: Reader's Digest)

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: Caza_No_7

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Myth: It is safe to drive your car through floodwater.

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: ChefMattRock

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Although you may be driving an SUV or a large truck and it looks like it will clear that flooded road, you should not attempt to pass the floodwaters in your vehicle. It will not take much rushing water to sweep away a large vehicle. If you are presented with flooded roadways, turn around and find other ways to reach your destination. (Source: Reader's Digest)

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: AER Wilmington DE

22 of 23

Myth: During an earthquake doorways are the safest place to be in a home.

PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons: miniwiki

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This myth used to be partially true in the past when doorways would be the only thing left standing following an earthquake in some homes that were not reinforced properly. Today modern doorframes are no stronger than any other part of the house, and you will be better off ducking under a table or desk until the earthquake has stopped. (Source: Reader's Digest)

Myth: Storms such as hurricanes and tornadoes are the most deadly type of weather.

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: Photography by Daniel

While these types of weather are the most dramatic and receive the most media coverage, they actually account for only six percent of weather-related deaths over a five-year period. According to the CDC, exposure to cold weather is the most dangerous type of weather which accounts for almost 63% of deaths, while exposure to heat is the next most dangerous accounting for 31% of weather-related deaths. (Source: Reader's Digest)

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: NOAA Photo Library

Myth: Lightning will never strike the same place twice.

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: jazar02

According to Chris Maier, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service, lightning can in fact strike the same place twice. Lightning is even more likely to strike the same place twice if the object struck is tall, pointed, or isolated. One specific example of a place that is struck by lightning more than once is the Empire State Building, which can be struck as many as 100 times per year. (Source: Reader's Digest)

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: James Loesch

Myth: Use alcohol to warm you up in the cold weather.

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: 55Laney69

If you've been justifying drinking alcohol at night because it's cold and you're looking to warm up, you are unfortunately mistaken. Alcohol can create a senstation of warmth, but in reality studies have determined that drinking alcohol causes heat to escape your body faster. Alcohol consumption causes blood to flow to the skin and away from your internal organs which is actually a reversal of the natural process that our body uses to keep ourselves warm. (Source: Reader's Digest)

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: Kyle May

Myth: Taping your windows during a hurricane will help protect your home.

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: WarmSleepy

The known myth is that taping your windows will help to prevent the glass from shattering during a hurricane, when in reality this will actually create larger more dangerous shards of glass. Another psychological effect of this is that the tape may provide you with a false sense of security, making you less likely to seek shelter in a windowless location where you would not have to work about shattered glass causing you harm. As an alternative, install hurricane shutters or impact-resistant windows to protect your windows from hurricanes. (Source: Reader's Digest)

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: WarmSleepy

Myth: You are more likely to become sick in cold air

PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons: Elipongo

This myth is partially true because it is viruses, not the weather that cause us to become sick. People are somewhat more susceptible to becoming sick because if our faces are exposed to the cold, our blood vesssels will constrict and our immune response will be repressed, which could make it easier for a virus to affect your body. (Source: Reader's Digest)

PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons: Maxwell GS

Myth: An area can be protected from a tornado if it is surrounded by lakes, rivers, or mountains.

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: davebloggs007

For years people have made claims that tornadoes have not happened where they live, or that they are being protected from such weather events by mountains, lakes, or rivers, and this simply isn't true. Just because a tornado has not occurred in a specific area does not mean that it cannot in the future. (Source: Reader's Digest)

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: LakeMartinVoice

Myth: A Flash Flood can only occur near rivers or streams.

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: U.S. Geological Survey

Just because you do not live near a body of water does not mean that you are not susceptible to a flash flood. Flash floods are caused by a rapid flooding of a low-lying area, which could be due to heavy rainfall, hurricanes, or even snowmelt. (Source: Reader's Digest)

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: Andrew Kesper

Myth: You can only get sunburned in the summer.

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: pedrosimoes7

Although we often associate sunburns with the summer, the earth is actually physically closest to the sun during the winter. During the winter in addition to the earth being closest to the sun, we also can have the snow and ice reflecting UV rays, which can give your skin a double dose of exposure. Be sure to wear sunscreen all year round when going outside. (Source: Reader's Digest)

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: Vince Alongi

Myth: If you touch someone who has been struck by lightning you will be electrocuted.

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: Scott Hudson *

Human bodies are not capable of conducting electricity, so if you touch someone who has been struck by lightning you will not be electrocuted yourself. (Source: Reader's Digest)

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: Caza_No_7

Myth: It is safe to drive your car through floodwater.

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: ChefMattRock

Although you may be driving an SUV or a large truck and it looks like it will clear that flooded road, you should not attempt to pass the floodwaters in your vehicle. It will not take much rushing water to sweep away a large vehicle. If you are presented with flooded roadways, turn around and find other ways to reach your destination. (Source: Reader's Digest)

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: AER Wilmington DE

Myth: During an earthquake doorways are the safest place to be in a home.

PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons: miniwiki

This myth used to be partially true in the past when doorways would be the only thing left standing following an earthquake in some homes that were not reinforced properly. Today modern doorframes are no stronger than any other part of the house, and you will be better off ducking under a table or desk until the earthquake has stopped. (Source: Reader's Digest)

Myth: Storms such as hurricanes and tornadoes are the most deadly type of weather.

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: Photography by Daniel

While these types of weather are the most dramatic and receive the most media coverage, they actually account for only six percent of weather-related deaths over a five-year period. According to the CDC, exposure to cold weather is the most dangerous type of weather which accounts for almost 63% of deaths, while exposure to heat is the next most dangerous accounting for 31% of weather-related deaths. (Source: Reader's Digest)

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: NOAA Photo Library

Myth: Lightning will never strike the same place twice.

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: jazar02

According to Chris Maier, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service, lightning can in fact strike the same place twice. Lightning is even more likely to strike the same place twice if the object struck is tall, pointed, or isolated. One specific example of a place that is struck by lightning more than once is the Empire State Building, which can be struck as many as 100 times per year. (Source: Reader's Digest)

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: James Loesch

Myth: Use alcohol to warm you up in the cold weather.

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: 55Laney69

If you've been justifying drinking alcohol at night because it's cold and you're looking to warm up, you are unfortunately mistaken. Alcohol can create a senstation of warmth, but in reality studies have determined that drinking alcohol causes heat to escape your body faster. Alcohol consumption causes blood to flow to the skin and away from your internal organs which is actually a reversal of the natural process that our body uses to keep ourselves warm. (Source: Reader's Digest)

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: Kyle May

Myth: Taping your windows during a hurricane will help protect your home.

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: WarmSleepy

The known myth is that taping your windows will help to prevent the glass from shattering during a hurricane, when in reality this will actually create larger more dangerous shards of glass. Another psychological effect of this is that the tape may provide you with a false sense of security, making you less likely to seek shelter in a windowless location where you would not have to work about shattered glass causing you harm. As an alternative, install hurricane shutters or impact-resistant windows to protect your windows from hurricanes. (Source: Reader's Digest)

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: WarmSleepy

Myth: You are more likely to become sick in cold air

PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons: Elipongo

This myth is partially true because it is viruses, not the weather that cause us to become sick. People are somewhat more susceptible to becoming sick because if our faces are exposed to the cold, our blood vesssels will constrict and our immune response will be repressed, which could make it easier for a virus to affect your body. (Source: Reader's Digest)

PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons: Maxwell GS

Myth: An area can be protected from a tornado if it is surrounded by lakes, rivers, or mountains.

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: davebloggs007

For years people have made claims that tornadoes have not happened where they live, or that they are being protected from such weather events by mountains, lakes, or rivers, and this simply isn't true. Just because a tornado has not occurred in a specific area does not mean that it cannot in the future. (Source: Reader's Digest)

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: LakeMartinVoice

Myth: A Flash Flood can only occur near rivers or streams.

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: U.S. Geological Survey

Just because you do not live near a body of water does not mean that you are not susceptible to a flash flood. Flash floods are caused by a rapid flooding of a low-lying area, which could be due to heavy rainfall, hurricanes, or even snowmelt. (Source: Reader's Digest)

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: Andrew Kesper

Myth: You can only get sunburned in the summer.

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: pedrosimoes7

Although we often associate sunburns with the summer, the earth is actually physically closest to the sun during the winter. During the winter in addition to the earth being closest to the sun, we also can have the snow and ice reflecting UV rays, which can give your skin a double dose of exposure. Be sure to wear sunscreen all year round when going outside. (Source: Reader's Digest)

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: Vince Alongi

Myth: If you touch someone who has been struck by lightning you will be electrocuted.

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: Scott Hudson *

Human bodies are not capable of conducting electricity, so if you touch someone who has been struck by lightning you will not be electrocuted yourself. (Source: Reader's Digest)

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: Caza_No_7

Myth: It is safe to drive your car through floodwater.

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: ChefMattRock

Although you may be driving an SUV or a large truck and it looks like it will clear that flooded road, you should not attempt to pass the floodwaters in your vehicle. It will not take much rushing water to sweep away a large vehicle. If you are presented with flooded roadways, turn around and find other ways to reach your destination. (Source: Reader's Digest)

PHOTO: Flickr Creative Commons: AER Wilmington DE

Myth: During an earthquake doorways are the safest place to be in a home.

PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons: miniwiki

This myth used to be partially true in the past when doorways would be the only thing left standing following an earthquake in some homes that were not reinforced properly. Today modern doorframes are no stronger than any other part of the house, and you will be better off ducking under a table or desk until the earthquake has stopped. (Source: Reader's Digest)

PHOTO: Image Source: Fema

11 Weather myths to stop believing

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Updated: 3:48 PM MDT Apr 29, 2015

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Reader's Digest has compiled a list of 11 weather myths you should stop believing. Check out their the myths and why they're being debunked in this slideshow.